If you’ve spent any time on Twitter since Elon Musk took the reins in late 2022, you ha ve likely noticed that the platform feels different. For some, it’s been a renaissance of "free speech" ; for others, a descent into digital chaos. One thing is certain: the rise in online incivility and hate speech has been impossible to ignore. What’s behind this shift, and why does Musk's influence seem to ignite so much vitriol? When Musk swung open the gates for previously banned accounts and loosened content moderation rules, it didn’t just unleash free thought—it opened the floodgates to hate speech and hostility . While not directly endorsed by Musk, his libertarian ideals created an environment where moderation became less consistent, and trolls felt emboldened. There is an additional feeling of encouragement when some of the accounts spreading this hate speech and incivility are getting paid to do so. With a premium X account, users get paid through advertising...
Politicians participating in incivility is not necessarily a new thing , and it’s certainly not a new enterprise for their followers . However, social media has pushed this to a new level , particularly with Donald Trump’s entrance into American politics. Although Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign is viewed as the first monumental online campaign , his online activity didn't touch how effective Donald Trump’s Twitter use was throughout his 2016 Presidential campaign. Maybe this was because more people had access to social media than ever before, maybe this was because humans can’t help but stare at an inevitable car crash, maybe this was because of many, many things that all added up and resulted in the shocking whirlwind victory. Whatever it was, Trump’s strategy won him the US Presidency. Scholars and journalists have been studying and compiling his Twitter usage, particularly his use of online incivility to get more clicks. Here is a New York...